Any suggestions on where to walk?

Jul 7, 2026 at 3:15pm

My wife and I enjoy walking a few miles - - gets some fresh air, and (as seniors) its nice to just "move". I realize there are many hiking trails all around us, but we much prefer walking on concrete, sidewalks. We've walked around McCloones a zillion times and we  truely enjoy it there. Aside from just walking randomly throughout our neighborhoods, does anyone know of nice, clean, safe walking paths withinan hours drive or so?

Years ago, we went walking on a nice path through the mountains, I believe in Hamburg, NJ. I also recall a lovely walking path near Providence, NJ. However, we both forgot specifically where these are (ok/ok maybe its time for Prevagen!)

Does anyone have any recommendations?

You can walk on the road that is closed to vehicles in South Mountain Reservation.  Park near the dog park.

It is just over 2 miles out and back.


Well, there are places like Duke Farms and Grounds for Sculpture. 


If you are willing to push the one hour limit, Princeton University is a great campus to walk around and their new art museum is free. Then you can have a meal downtown for the full experience.


A few (maybe 5) of the many miles of the Patriots Path network are paved. Asphalt. 


I think Loantaka reservation has some long paved trails - is that Chatham, or maybe Madison?


Brookdale Park used to have a paved path around the perimeter of the park. It’s probably still there. Pretty good ice cream places nearby too. 


But what’s wrong with the Durand-Maplewood Ave-Jefferson-Walton-Audrey-Kendal-Jefferson-Woodland loop?

There’s nothing random about it.


The road along the Rahway River through the Reservation from Locust Grove by Millburn Library to Hemlock Falls has been graded and covered with compacted rip rap.  This is a long way a saying it should be nice for walking now. 


Bedminster. Hills Drive. Park in King's parking lot and walk across the street from the pizza store, farthest away from RT 206 part of the parking lot. Walk down that short street and you will see a paved path to a bridge. That is the beginning of the paved path. 

It is an in-and-back path but through a wooded area and part of it follows the south branch of the Rahway River.

About 3 miles, in and out. Like many paved paths, beware of bicycles.


The Great Swamp was always a fun walk. I always thought it would make for a great Peanuts special, where Linus looks forward to getting there, but never does. 


In the last few days  I walked the paths around 2 parks I always drove by but never went into.  Rahway River Park and Warinanco.  Both nicer than I expected.   Much closer is Briant Park in Summit, with a popular one mile walking loop.


dickf3 said:

I think Loantaka reservation has some long paved trails - is that Chatham, or maybe Madison?

Morristown


MapleBri:   Instead of or as a change to walking around the reservoir (McCloone's as you described it) try parking in the Oakdale parking lot right across from the reservoir and BEFORE you cross the road to get to the reservoir you will see a lovely paved road on the right, right near the porta jons. You feel like you're hiking but you are not. The road is paved, closed and lovely. I do hike but on certain days depending I will do that road. Part of the Oakdale trail parallels it but it is a paved road.

For neighborhoods not near me (I am in the Tuscan area) I like walking around Newstead as the houses are so different. 


Warinanco Park in Roselle has a bunch of loops inside the roadway.  


There's a nice park off Bloomfield Ave/Lakeside Dr in Verona (I think it's Verona, might be Cedar Grove) - it's called Verona Park. We've walked there sometimes and enjoyed the paths and scenery. Also there's Bryant Pond in Summit which also has a decent paved path around it, with a pond and some waterbirds. Both are pretty close and had decent parking availability when we were there.


It’s not a park or far away, but Sagamore Road (above Wyoming) is a great walk end to end, or if you drive, end to end to end. It’s a climb to get there, but the road is relatively flat and has sidewalks. It’s mostly Milllburn, maybe turns into SO at one end. So many different architectural styles along the way that there’s always something to look at. (No ice cream or eateries, though!)



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